Judgment of the Court of First Instance (Single Judge) of 14 December 2006 – Branco v Commission

(Case T-162/04)

European Social Fund (ESF) – Reduction of financial assistance – Subcontracting – Reasonable time

1.                     Community law – Principles – Protection of legitimate expectations (see para. 119)

2.                     Social policy – European Social Fund – Financial assistance for vocational training (Council Regulation No 2950/83, Arts 5(4), 6 and 7(1); Council Decision 83/516, Art. 2(2)) (see paras 121, 126)

3.                     Community law – Principles – Duty to act within a reasonable time (see para. 128)

Re:

ACTION for annulment of the decision of the Commission of 8 August 2003 reducing the assistance of the European Social Fund (ESF) and, therefore, rejecting the application for payment of the balance of the assistance from the ESF, initially approved for operational program 87 03 01 P1.

 Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders the applicant to pay the costs.